Jonglei Traders’ Shops at Last Stock as Gov’t Staffs’ Salary Delays

By Philip Thon Aleu

February 16, 2009 (BOR TOWN) – In what appears as a mutual benefit, traders in Jonglei capital fear that re-stocking shops in the next few days will be impossible since government staffs are not paid January, 2009 salary.

A section of traders who co-operate with the Sudan Tribune to analyze the likely effects of delayed payment of salaries to government staffs says daily profits have been significantly lowered and importing items is becoming a threat. Others however, say the salary delay affect traders dependently on items sold.

Government employees in Jonglei State have not received January, 2009 salary as the semi-autonomous South Sudan, which depends on oil revenue struggles amid declining oil prices. However, it is not clearly or officially announced whether delay to pay salary is attached to diminishing international oil price.

Alier Makuei, a trader dealing in soft drinks at Marol market told the Sudan Tribune on Monday that government staffs own him up to 2000 Sudanese Pounds (SDG) but market is not flowing as usual for him to cater for his supplier’s minimum requirements.

"I never had any customer since morning. The situation is not good," Alier said. He observed that opportunity cost is taking greater effects. Traders dealing in food items including flour, bean, vegetables and others are less likely sufferers of delayed payment. "If an employee has 100SDG, he prefers buying food items for his family but not soda, or milk," Makuei noted. Traders owning bars say

Emma Ssegrewa, a Ugandan dealing in vegetables says his business is running smoothly. He attributes his unaltered profits in government employees’ hard times to the strategic location of his canteen and what he calls "basic goods" he is selling.

In a strange revelation, Hussein Ibrahims, a Kenyan, says his cement; flour and bean bags are being brought as normal. "To me, nothing has changed since January. My profit is the same," he said.

Government employees who spoke to the Sudan Tribune say the situation is not good for their families.